Jeter comfortable with Marlins' long-term plan

MIAMI -- On the eve of Spring Training, Marlins chief executive officer Derek Jeter on Tuesday reinforced his commitment to building a first-class organization from the bottom up.

From a roster standpoint, the club underwent a significant offseason makeover that included trading several core players, including 2017 National League Most Valuable Player Award winner Giancarlo Stanton. From the business side, the franchise hired Chip Bowers as its president of business operations.

MIAMI -- On the eve of Spring Training, Marlins chief executive officer Derek Jeter on Tuesday reinforced his commitment to building a first-class organization from the bottom up.

From a roster standpoint, the club underwent a significant offseason makeover that included trading several core players, including 2017 National League Most Valuable Player Award winner Giancarlo Stanton. From the business side, the franchise hired Chip Bowers as its president of business operations.

"We have our plan, and we have to stick to our plan," Jeter said Tuesday at Marlins Park. "It may be unpopular, but you hope over time, the people that disagree with the opinions and decisions that you make [will] understand."

After eight straight losing seasons, the Marlins parted with the nucleus of recent years, trading Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon.

"Regardless of some of the decisions we make, we're going to disappoint some people," Jeter said. "We won't deviate from a plan. I have purposely said [that] we're building an organization. We're not rebuilding. In my mind, rebuilding, there is a negative connotation to that. We're building something here. Also, I think a lot of times people just automatically assume we're not going to win.

"When you put players on the field that are going to compete, everyone has an opportunity to win. You want that in their mindset. When they take the field, they're going to play as a professional and handle themselves as a professional. They expect a positive outcome."

Miami's final major move heading into Spring Training came on Monday with the hiring of Bowers, who joins the Marlins after spending five seasons with the NBA's Golden State Warriors.

Bowers' task is to build up the business side of the Marlins, which will include pursuing a naming rights partner for Marlins Park, along with a new local television contract.

"First and foremost, it wasn't an easy decision," Bowers said of leaving the reigning NBA champs. "It's a world-class organization. There are a number of parallels between the Golden State Warriors and this organization. When I went to work there five years ago, new ownership. I look at this and say, 'Look, a lot of similarities.'

"I want to be a part of building something special. That's why I came here. There are great things happening in Golden State. I think there are tremendous things that are going to happen here, and greatness awaits."

The NBA has been successful in connecting with younger fans, and MLB also is trying to engage a younger demographic.

"We've got to be smarter about how we go about our business," Bowers said. "I think we want to be creating impactful content, the kind of content that people can get excited about. Fans want to know about their players both on the field and off the field. They want to know about how the organization has been embracing those players.

"We are not just a sports brand. We are a lifestyle brand. The game experience is going to be exceptionally important. This has to be a destination. This has to be a place where people come to spend their time and energy."